Automatic controller of fluidpressure type



J. H. M LEOD, JR

AUTOMATIC CONTROLLER 0F FLUID-PRESSURE TYPE May 16, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 14, 1947 INVEN TOR CAPAC/ 7') 74 Jay/v /7. M61500, JR.

l .m Tll wMJWJZ Wild A TTO/PNE Y5 y 6, 1950 J. H. MCLEOD, JR 2,507,606

AUTOMATIC CONTROLLER 0F FLUID-PRESSURE TYPE Filed May 14, 1947 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Tiqz.

INVEN TOR Jam/H -Mc5aa JR.

BY M! M ATTORNEYS May 16, 1950 J. H. MCLEOD, JR

AUTOMATIC CONTROLLER 0F FLUID-PRESSURE TYPE 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed May 14, 1947 /0.97 py 4453 Tic INVEN TOR Patented May 16, 1950 AUTOMATIC CONTROLLER F FLUID- PBESSURE TYPE John H. McLeod, Jr., Philadelphia, Pa., asaignor" to Leeds and Northrup Company, Philadelphia, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application May 14, 1947, Serial No. 747,925

1 Claims. (Cl. 137-139) This invention relates to pneumatic controllers of the type useful for the control of a magnitude of a controlled or measured variable, quantity or condition, such as temperature, pH values, rate of flow or other physical, chemical or electrical condition, and has for an object the provision of a pneumatic controller of compact and reliable design and in which there have been provided a number of novel features.

Pneumatic controllers of the type disclosed in Stein et al. Patent No. 2,285,540 have been in use for a number of years and they have proven to be reliable and desirable for many control applications. Nevertheless, such systems leave something to be desired in economy of operation, particularly as regards the amount of air utilized in a given period of time, and in the flexibility of control to take care of widely varying conditions of operation.

In carrying out the invention in one form thereof, there is provided a pilot unit, which itself can fulfill all of the requirements of the desired controller, and there is further provided a pneumatic relay or booster which operates under the control of the pilot unit and which includes automatically operable valves which decrease to a minimum the use of compressed air in the operation of the controller. Provisions may also far from manual to automatic operation is produced with little or no disturbance of the processes under control, a result heretofore desired but not attained.

The pilot unit itself includes a number of desirable features. First, there is provided a pivotally mounted nozzle adjustable with reference to a curved surface of a baiile rotatable about spaced axes. By predetermining the position of the nozzle along the curved surface of the baflle and with reference to the axesthereof, any desired ratio of primary control action to feed-back action may be selected. One end of the baille member is hinged to a bellows-operated lever while the other end of the baflle member is pivotally adjusted by a member in response to variation in the magnitude of the measured variable. Adjustment of a cooperating control member serves to preselect the desired control point; that is, the magnitude of the condition or measured variable which is to be maintained by the system as a whole.

For further objects and advantages of the invention and for a detailed description of further novel features, reference is to be had to the 2 following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: A

Fig. 1 diagrammatically illustrates a system to one form of apparatus embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 illustrates, partly in exploded perspective with certain parts cut away and in part diagrammatically, a preferred embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 3 illustrates in perspective certain parts shown in exploded view in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a view, partly in section, of the nozzle assembly shown in exploded perspective in Fig. 2 with baiiie 42 held by screw 21 in a position widely spaced from the nozzle 39 and farther than occurs in usual operation;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view of the nozzle assembly including the packing gland;

Fig. 6 is a view of the bellows-operated arm of the device of Fig. 2, including the hinged baille;

Fig. 7 is a side view with parts cut away of the bellows-mounting means for the device of Fig. 2; and

Fi 8 is a sectional view taken on the line 88 of Fig. '7.

Referring to the drawings, the invention in one form has been illustrated as applied to the control of the temperature of a furnace l0, though the system may, of course, be utilized to control any measured variable such as the magnitude of any other quantities or conditions. As shown, the measured variable, the temperature of the furnace I0, is varied by changing the position of a control valve ll connected in the fuel supply line l2. The valve H may be opened to any desired extent by means of a diaphragm l3 and opposing spring, or other suitable pneumatic operating mechanism. The temperature of the furnace is measured by means of a measuri circuit, including a thermocouple I4 suitably positioned in the furnace and electrically connected to a potentiometer l5 and to a galvanometer coil l6. While the temperature of the furnace may be measured by other apparatus, the system illustrated, which symbolically indicates the measuring instrument or mechanical relay i8 operable under the control of the galvanometer I6, is of the type disclosed in Squibb Patent No. 1,935,732. For a detailed description of the operation of such a mechanical relay l8, reference may be had to said Squibb patent. Briefly, deflection of the galvanometer coil IS in one direction or the other positions the pointer ll between a pair of feeler members l9, l9. By suitable cam mechanism the feeler members are released for operaasoaeoo tion by a spring 25 to position a clutch member 2| with reference to a disc 22. After deflection of the clutch member 2| it is moved into engagement with the disc 22. Thereafter, restoring cams return the clutch member 2| to the position illustrated and, at the same time, rotate the disc 22 and the shaft, diagrammatically indicated by the broken lines 23 and 24.

The slidewire of potentiometer i is adjusted in a direction to rebalance the measuring circuit and concurrently a gear 25 in mesh with a gear 25 rotates a screw 21 in one direction or the other, depending upon whether the temperature in the furnace H) has risen above or fallen below its previous level. The screw 21 is carried by the internally threaded hub 28 of a gear 29, the hub extending through a frame 30 of the pilot device 3|. To the end of the screw 21 is secured one element of a thrust bearing 32, the other element of which has bearing against it one end of a spring 53. Th opposite end of the spring bears against the frame 30 and thus axially maintains the gear 29 against the frame and eliminates axial backlash between the screw 21 and the threaded hub 28, and between the gear 29 and the frame 30. The gear 29 meshes with agear 34 which may be manually rotated by a knob 85 in selection of a desired control point, as determined from the position of a pointer 36 with reference to a suitably calibrated scale 31.

Air is delivered by way of the pipe 38 to the nozzle 39 of the pilot device 3|, which nozzle is adjustable about a pivotal axis 40 with reference to the curved surface 4| of a baiile 42. The baflle 42 has one end thereof supported on or by the rounded end of the screw 21 while the opposite end thereof is connected to one end of a lever 43 by means of leaf spring hinge 44. Thus either end of the baffle may be rotated about an axis adjacent the other end thereof. Near the opposite end of the lever 43 and bearing against it from opposite sides thereof, are bellows 45 and 45. The said opposite end of the lever 43 is connected by a leaf spring 41 to a rotatable member 48 mounted in V-notch 48a of the frame 30 by a clamping plate 49.

The air flowing to the pipe 38 may come from any suitable source of compressed air as from a supply pipe 50 by way of a filter 5|, a valve 52, a passageway 53, and a restriction 54 which may be located within a bellows 55. The bellows 55 forms a part of the pneumatic relay or booster 56, which also includes bellows 51 and 58. All three bellows are mounted between a stationary base 59 and a movable plate 80, pivotally supported from the base member 59, as by a flexible hinge or leaf spring 5|. Bellows 51 and 58, of substantially the same effective area, are mounted on opposite sides of the flexible hinge 5|, bellows 51 being at a greater distance from said hinge than bellows 58. Bellows 58, connected to bellows 51, is provided in order to decrease the effective moment of bellows 51 so that a desired ratio of pressure changes in bellows 55 to those in bellows 51 can be obtained with the use of bellows and lever arms of practical magnitude. A tension spring 52, adjustable by means of the nut 53, biases one end of the movable plate 58 towards the base 58 and against the nozzle pressure developed in bellows 55. Extending through the bellows 51 is a, valve actuator 54. As shown, the lower valve 55 and the upper valve 55 are both .closed. When the movable plate 58 is rotated 4 valve 55. when the plate 55 moves in a clockwise direction, as by a decrease in pressure in bellows 55, the valve seat is moved to open the valve 55 and, to connect the bellows 51 to atmosphere.

Because the moment arm of the bellows 55 about hinge 5| is somewhat less than the moment arm of bellows 51, equal pressures on both bellows will result in a moment in clockwise direction on the arm of plate 50. Acting against the resultant moment developed by bellows 51 and 58 is a moment developed by the bellows 55 which, it will be observed, has a much greater arm than those of bellows 51 or 55.

In one embodiment of the invention a onepound change of pressure in the bellows 55 acquired a ten-pound change in the common pressure in bellows 51 and 58 to balance it. Thus, the ratio of change in pressure due to the different moments was of the order of ten to one. This ratio is independent of the tension on the adjustable spring 82 which is utilized to preselect the magnitude of the output pressure on the diaphragm l3 for a particular setting of baflie 42 relative to nozzle 39.

All of the parts of the system of Fig. l have been illustrated in positions for automatic control and with the measured variable at the selected control point. If the temperature of the furnace l0 should increase, the mechanical relay l8 will rotate the screw 21 to move it axially downward, as viewed in Fig. 1, thus permitting the baille 42 to move away from the end of the nozzle 39, the spring hinge 44 normally biasing the opposite end of the baflle 42 against the rounded end of screw 21. Thus, the baiile 42 rotates about its left-hand axis by an amount determined by the movement of screw 21. The increased spacing between the end of the nozzle 39 and the baffle 42, by reducing the restrictive effect of baille surface 4| on nozzle 39, reduces the pressure in the bellows 55 since air is then lost at a greater rate than it can be supplied through restriction 54. The reduction in pressure in the bellows 55 permits spring 52 to rotate the movable plate in a clockwise direction about the flexible hinge 5| to open valve 55 to atmosphere. Leakage of air from the bellows 51 lowers the pressure-therein and results in a counter-clockwise movement of the movable plate 60 to reclose valve 65 and to reestablish a balance at a new value of air pressure within bellows 51. The interior of the bellows 51 is connected to one side of the-diaphragm l3 of valve H by way of a passage 51, a pipe 58, a transfer valve 59 and a pipe 18. Accordingly, the reduction in pressure in the bellows 51 is accompanied by a corresponding reduction in pressure on the upper side of diaphragm l3 whereupon the spring 1| operates the valve II in a direction to reduce the flow of fuel to the furnace Ill.

In the system as thus far described, an exceedingly small movement of the screw 21 will produce movement of the valve II from one extreme position to the other extreme position. In one embodiment of the invention, a change in the position or setting of the screw 21 of one-tenth of one percent of the full-range movement of the screw was sufficient to produce movement of the valve between fully opened and fully closed positions. In other words, the proportional band was very narrow and resulted in on-and-oif operation of the valve Nevertheless the steep gradient or wide change in pressure for a small movement of the screw 21 is an indication of the inherently high sensitivity of the system and this inherent sensitivity is retained in the system with the additional features hereinafter described. In so far as theory is concerned, the pilot unit 3| could be used without the booster. However, to give fast and positive operation with a minimum consumption of air, the booster unit 56 is preferably included in all systems embodying the invention.

Further in accordance with the invention, the proportional band may be widened and made adjustable throughout a very substantial range. For example, in terms of the indicator scale, a change in the measured variable of one-tenth of a full-scale change thereof may effect an adjust-- ment of the valve II by one-tenth of its full range of movement between its on and oil" positions. Alternatively, the same one-tenth change in the measured variable can be utilized to produce from zero change in the valve setting to as much as full-range movement of the valve.

6 the positions shown, the nozzle "may be rotated to any desired pontion along the curved surface 4|. extending between the pivoted points of the baiile 42, without changing the spacing between the end of nozzle 38 and the surface 4! for the reason that the curved surface 4! is at all points equidistant from the pivotal axis 49 of nozzle 39. Thus, the pressure in the pipe 38 will be the same regardless of the position of the nozzle 39 along the surface 4|. However, a change in the angular position of the nozzle 39, with respect to the baiile 42, serves to adiust the ratio of negative feed-back action to primary control action from zero to extremely high values. The feed-back action may also be changed from negative to positive.

With an instrument including only ,the features thus far described, particularly with the addition To simplify the description of how the foregoing is accomplished, it will be assumed that the output pressure, that in pipe 19, will be that of the pipe 38 and the following description will disregard restriction 12 or will assume that throttle valve restriction to be fully open. With such direct assumed connection between pipes 38 and 10,

any change in the output pressure applied to diaphragm l3 will, through the action of the bellows 45, cause thebaiile-support lever 43 to move the left-hand end of the baflle 42, to which it is fastened by a flexible hinge 44, in a direction opposite to that in which the right-hand end of baffle 42 was originally moved by the screw 21. Thus, for the rise in temperature, previously assumed, the screw- 21 moved downwardly. The resultant decrease in the output pressure acting through bellows then raises the left-hand end of bailie 42. By reason of this opposite adjustment of the baflle 42, a negative feed-back action is introduced, the magnitude of which is a function of the nozzle-baflle characteristics, of the spring constant of the baiile-support mechanism (that is; of the bellows and flexible hinges and other springs attached thereto) and of the position of the nozzle 39 along the curved surface 4| of the bathe 42 with respect to the pivotal axes of bafile 42.

Since the baflle 42 is pivotally mounted so that its opposite ends are respectively movable in response to change in the adjustment of screw 21 and in the position of lever 43, an adjustment of the nozzle 39 along the baflle serves to adjust the amount of negative feed-back and, therefore, changes the width of the proportional band. In other words, any decrease in output pressure due to a rising temperature through said feed-back action immediately results in movement of the baiile 42 in the same direction as would be produced. by a falling temperature with corresponding rise in output pressure.

The nozzle 39 may be moved to and beyond the pivotal supports of the baflle 42. Since the width of the proportional band is affected by, or depends upon, the magnitude of the negative feed-back action, the width of the band will increase as the nozzle 39 approaches the pivotal axes determined by the flexible hinge 44. In other words, with the nozzle 39 adjacent the left-hand pivoted end of baille 42, as viewed in Fig. 1, small movements of the lever 43 resultin negative feed-back of much greater magnitude than with the nozzle 39 nearer the screw 21.

It may here be observed that with the parts in only of the bellows 45, there would be present only proportional-position action; that is, action where there is continuous linear relation between the value of the controlled variable and the position of the final control element, the valve II.

It will be remembered that without the bellows 45 the system would function like an on-andofli control. The proportional band would be so narrow as to provide that kind of operation. In such a system, because of the on-and-ofi action, the measured variable would violently oscillate about the control point, specifically the selected temperature to be maintained. The provision of the bellows 45 eliminates the oscillation of the measured variable but produces in the system a substantial oifset or drooping characteristic. Because of the bellows 45, any change in the setting of the 'valve il requires that the thermocouple be maintained at a temperature higher or lower than that selected for the control point. Thus, if the temperature rises because of a decreased demand, as we have already assumed, the valve i I can be maintained in a more nearly closed position to reduce the fuel to the furnace i0 only by maintaining the temperature of the thermocouple I4 at a somewhat higher value than that selected for the control point. Such an offset is required to produce the control action and is known as droop. While the system including the bellows 45 provides a smoothly continuous change in the position of the valve l I, with changes in the controlled variable, the aforesaid droop is in most cases highly undesirable.

v By providing the bellows 45 subjected to the same pressure as the bellows 45 but through a restriction, such as a throttle valve'13, there is eliminated the associated droop or oflset, yet the baflle 42 and the contraction of the bellows 45, a

pressure differential appears across the restriction I3 because the pressure in pipe I0 and on diaphragm l3 has been reduced. Temporarily the pressure in the bellows 46 will be higher than in the bellows 45. However, flow of air through the restriction 13 occurs over a time interval, the length thereof depending primarily upon the setting of thethrottle valve or restriction 13, and until the pressure in bellows 46 is equal to that in the bellows 45. When the-pressures in the two bellows are equal, the lever 43 will be substantially in its original position; that is, the position shown in Fig. 1, and yet there will have been established a new pressure on the valve II to hold it in a new position which will maintain the measured variable or temperature of the thermocouple I4 at its preselected value. During the time interval in which the pressure in the bellows 48 approaches equality with that in bellows 45, the system operates with the proportional-position action described above but at the expiration of that time interval the oflset or droop will have been substantially eliminated. The new operation introduced by the addition oi! the bellows 46 has been defined by workers in the art as reset action and, as already explained, it can be adjusted by changing the setting of the throttle valve 13.

Though the system thus far described is suitable for many applications, an additional control eii'ect is provided which has been found highly desirable in some control applications. This is accomplished by including in the line to the bellows 45 a restriction, shown as throttle valve 12. After a change in pressure caused by primary control action, the restriction 12 has the effect of delaying negative reed-back pressure by an interval proportional to the pressure drop created across said restriction and thus the pressure on diaphragm l3 of valve H is incrementally varied in accordance with that pressure drop. As the pressure in bellows 45 approaches that on diaphragm l3, due to fluid flow through restriction 12, the negative feed-back action becomes fully effective and the rate action, later so identified, disappears. In other words, the eflect of restriction 12 is transitory and self-extinguishing. However, if a constant rateof change of primary control action is established and maintained, the pressure drop across restriction 12 will assume a constant value having a continuously linear relation to said rate of change and an increment equal to this pressure drop will be added to or subtracted from the pressure on diaphragm I3 and a corresponding increment of displacement will be added to or subtracted from the position of valve 1 l. The effect described will be recognized by those skilled in the art as rate action. It should be understood that though restriction 12 is adjustable, it must always be so adjusted that the pressure changes in bellows 45 occur at a faster rate than those in bellows 45, or instability will result from the positive feed-back efiect of bellows 46 which would then be greater than the stabilizing negative feed-back effect of bellows 45.

In order that reasonable time intervals may be provided, without undesirably small valve-openings, for operation in a direction tending to equalize the pressures between bellows 45 and 46 and with reference to the pressure applied to the \valve ll, capacity tanks 14 and 15 may be provided. They need not be very large in order satisfactorily'to increase the volume of the system and ordinarily will be somewhat larger than the vol-- unie of the respective bellows 45 and 45.

While the foregoing description has been largely in terms of the assumed rise in temperature, it will of course be understood that a decrease in the temperature of thermocouple i4 will cause the various components to function to readjust the valve i I in the direction to increase the fuel supply to the furnace Ill to maintain the temperature at the control point.

Ii 2. new selected temperature is desired in the furnace to, it is only necessary to rotate the knob which, through the gear 34, turns the it the contrclpoint, or the temperature to be controlledistobelowentheknobllwillbemtated in a clockwise direction as indicated by the arrow on knob II. The gear will rotate the gear 2| and the threaded hub 20 in a direction to move screw 21 axially downward, thereby to rotate the bafiie 42 in a clockwise direction about the axis provided by the hinge 44. Conversely, to increase the temperature or to elevate the control point the knob 35 is rotated in a direction opposite to the direction of the arrow shown thereon.

In the limit, it the nozzle 4! be rotated in a clockwise direction to such setting that the end thereof is located effectively at the left-hand pivotal axis or the baiiie 42, no change in position of the screw 21 or in the position of the baiiie 42 about that axis will be effective to change the pressure in the system, particularly that on diaphragm l3. However, in that assumed limit, the slightest change in position of the bailie 42 about the axis determined by the rounded end of the screw 21 will produce a tremendous change in the pressure on valve II. Thus, in the assumed limit, the feed-back section with the nozzle is at the axis formed by the hinge 44 would be exceedingly great while the primary control action produced by the change in position of the screw 21 will be zero. Of course, this is a theoretical limit as there would be no control action. The

device would not ordinarily be adjusted with nozzle 39 at the aforesaid limit. On the other hand, with the nozzle is moved in a counter clockwise direction until it is effectively at the right-hand axis of rotation 01 the baiile 42, movement oi. the lever 43 with resultant rotation of bailie 42 will not change the pressure on the valve i I, but any change in position of the screw 21 will produce a relatively great change in the pressure on the valve H. In this case, the negative feedback action will be zero but the primary control action will be a maximum. Thus, it will be seen that with the nozzle 39 in intermediate positions the ratio of the negative feed-back action to the primary control action may be varied in the limits from zero to infinity as the nozzle is positioned to utilize any complementary desired fractions of feed-back and primary control actions between zero and unity.

To illustrate a further capability oi. the system, if the nozzle 39 be adjusted in a counter-clockwise direction beyond the right-hand axis, ordinarily beyond a line extending from the axis 40 to the rounded end 01' screw 21, then the feed-back action resulting from movement of the lever 42 by bellows 45 is effective in a positive direction; that is, to adjust the baflle 42 in the same direction as produced by rotation of the screw 21. By this means the offset characteristics inherent in the nozzle-baflie relationship can be entirely cancelled, permitting an overall theoretical adJustmeritv of the proportional band from zero under these conditions to infinity under the conditions previously cited where the nozzle is eilectively over the left-hand point of rotation of the baflie 42. V

The pneumatic relay or booster it, as has already been explained, is utilized not only to minimize air consumption but also to act as a pneumatic amplifier to produce in the output bellows 51 amplified pressure changes proportional to those in nozzle pipe 34. With the parts in the positions illustrated in Fig. 1, the only now of air is by way of the restriction 54 to the nozzle II. which is of a relatively low order, for example,

9 one-third of a cubic foot per minute. The consumption of air with this system is of such a low order that itbecomes feasible continuously to operate the controller in emergencies from a limited source of supply such as a cylinder of compressed air or gas.

Since the restriction 54 is interposed between the source of supply 50 and the nozzle pipe 38, the pressure in the bellows 51 may be of a higher order than that in the nozzle pipe 38. However, any change in the pressure in the nozzle pipe 38, by reason of movement of the baffle 42, immediately changes the pressure within the bellows 55 in manner already explained to produce the pivotal movement of the plate 68 which opens or closes the ball valves 65 and 66 to produce a related and greater pressure change in the bellows 51, which is applied by way of the pipe 68, the transfer valve 69 and the valve to the diaphragm l3 of valve H. Thus, the pressures applied to the bellows 45 and 46 are functions of the pressure on the diaphragm i 3 of valve H which will be that in the bellows 51 rather than the pressure in the pipe 38 as was earlier assumed in the description of the control action without the booster.

The automatic-manual transfer valve 69 is an optional feature of the system. As shown, it is in the automatic position and connects the pilot and booster as above described. When turned from the illustrated automatic position to the manual position it raises valve 80, thereby connecting the manual control regulator 8| to the pipe Hi and diaphragm l3 by way of the operating cam chamber 82 which serves as a manifold. At the same time, it lowers valve 83 to shut off the automatic controller output pressure from chamber 82 and to the diaphragm l3. The valve 80, in manual position, is also effective to open a by-pass 84 around the reset restriction 13. At the same time, the valve 83 opens a by-pass connection 85 around rate restriction 12. The result is that the bellows 45 on manual control is directly connected to the pressure within the bellows 51 while the bellows 46 is directly connected to the pressure on the diaphragm l3. The valve H, under manual control, is positioned entirely in accordance with the setting of the manual control valve 8! and is not affected by changes in pressure in either the pilot unit 3| or the booster unit 56. Nevertheless, air continues to flow through the nozzle 39 and the screw 21 continues to be adjusted in accordance with changes in magnitude of the temperature within furnace 88. Thus, with the valve 8| manually adjusted to bring the temperature of furnace ID to the control point, as indicated on scale 31 by pointer 36, a pen '89 or an indicator 88 (as shown in Fig. 2) will be gradually moved by the relay l8 until it coincides with the selected control point. That will then be a proper time for transfer from manual to automatic operation; If the transfer is then effected, the pressure within the bellows 46 will, of course, be equal to that on the diaphragm i3 and the pressure within the bellows 45 will be equal to that in the bellows 51. With the temperature in furnace ID at the control point, the pressure at diaphragm l3 of valve I -l and within the bellows 5'! will be equal. Accordingly, there will be no change in the position of the valve after the transfer has been made from manual to automatic operation and there will not be any change in the temperature of the furnace [0 by reason of the transfer. This is a substantial advantage since the transfer from manual to automatic operation can be effected without in any way changing the conditions of the process under control.

By direct connection of the bellows to the bellows 51, the negative feed-back action is maintained and, therefore, should the transfer be made with the system operating slightlyaway from the control point, the negative feed-back action is immediately effective and in proper magnitude to bring it back to control with a minimum of change in the magnitude of the condition under control or a minimum disturbance of the process being controlled.

In the foregoing description the operation has been in terms of positive pressures applied to the supply pipes. If desired, negative or subatmospheric pressures may be utilized, the direction of fluid flow being reversed with such operation as against the direction of fluid flow in Fig. 1 by reversed position of the seats of valves 65, 85.

The present commercial form of the invention has been illustrated in Figs. 2-8 and parts thereof having functions corresponding with those in Fig. 1 have been given like reference characters. Where in Fig. 1 there has been diagrammatically illustrated the mechanical relay H3, in Fig. 2 only a shaft 2324 of the relay has been illustrated. This shaft carries a slidewire resistor l5a which comprises the resistor of the potentiometer l5 of Fig. 1. Also carried on this shaft is a driving pulley 86, by means of which a violin string or cord 8! is driven for movement of an index 88 relative to the scale 31. Associated with the index 88 is a pen or stylus 89 for marking a suitable record on a strip chart 90. Thus, as fully shown and described in the aforesaid Squibb patent, the magnitude of the measured variable is indicated on the scale 31 and recorded on the strip chart 90. The selected control point is indicated by the position of the index 36 on the scale 31. For convenient selection of the control point, the adjusting knob 35 is mounted on the front of the instrument. Through a chain drive MI and gears I82, 103 and 34, rotation of the gear 29 and of the hub 28 is effected to change the position of the screw 21. In this way the baffle 42 is rotated in a selected direction about an axis determined by the spring hinge 44. The baffle 42 carries a thrust bearing 42a which engages the end of the screw 21.

In this modification of the invention, the lever 43 is of channel construction with a central part cut away to form a rectangular opening 43a, for admission of the nozzle 39 and the end of the screw 27, Fig. 6. The upper end of lever 43 has clamped to it a spring hinge 41 which is also clamped to the frame 30 by means of a clamping member I04, Fig. '7, secured to the frame by means of threaded screws [05 which enter the threaded openings W6, Fig. 2. The bellows 45 and 46 respectively bear on opposite'sides of the lever 43. As shown, the, open channel section of lever 43 in the region of the bellows includes a member i0! which may also serve to clamp the spring 41 to the lever 43.

The bellows 45 and 46 are carried in a subframe comprising a lower plate I08, Fig.8, spacing members I09 and H0 which support the respective ends of bellows 45 and 48, and a top plate I l I. The plate i l I, fastened to the spacer members I09 and III] as by screws, has one end extending outwardly toward the left-hand end of the frame 30, as viewed in Figs. 7 and'8, with a v plate III rests upon posts extending from the frame 33 and into which there threadedly extend clamping screws II3. Two of these posts, the posts I24 and I25 appear in Fig. 2 and all posts, including posts I26 and I27, appear in Fig. 7. The screws II3 extend through elongated openings H4 in the plate III. Consequently, by providing an adjusting screw II5 threaded in the frame 33 the plate I I I may be moved to the right or to the'left as viewed in Figs. 7 and 8 by engagement of an enlarged end I I8 of the screw I I5 with the side of the rectangular opening II 2. Accordingly, if the adjusting screw II5 be rotated in one direction the bellows assembly as a whole may be moved to the right with reference to the lever 43. The result of such a movement will be to increase the compression on bellows 48 to shorten it, and to lengthen the bellows 45. Conversely, opposite rotation of the screw I I5 will shorten the bellows 45 and will lengthen the bellows 48.

As above stated, the pressures developed in the bellows 45 and 48 are equal when the measured variable is at the control point and the parts are in the positions illustrated in Fig. 1. If there is any difference between the effective areas of the two bellows 45 and 46, equal pressures therein will not produce equal moments on the arm 43 since the bellows with the greater effective area will produce the greater force on the lever 43. While bellows can be mad with relatively high uniformity as regards cross-sectional area, some variations nearly always appear therein. In accordance with the invention, it has been discovered that a lengthening or shortening of a bellows will cause it to act in the same way as though the effective area had been decreased or increased. In other words, the force/pressure characteristics of the bellows may be modified within very useful limits. Accordingly, in calibrating the instrument the adjusting-screw II5 permits a factory adjustment to take care of small differences of areas as between bellows and 43. After the needed adjustment has been made by rotation of the screw II5, the clamping screws I I3 serve tightly to hold the bellows assembly in fixed position.

It may further be observed that if one elastic bellows be lengthened and the other shortened, it is necessary to correct for the change of their inherent spring effectson the lever 43. This may be conveniently done by adjusting means provided at the lower end of lever 43, Fig. 2, which specifically comprises a pair of springs I I1 and I I I 3, which may be formed from a single length of wire, the respective springs being located on opposite sides of lever 43 and axially joined together.

The end 43b of lever 43 is clamped to the connecting portion of springs II! and H8 by means of a nut-and-bolt assembly H3, Fig. 6. The lefthand end of spring II! is fastened by a bolt and nut I23 to the frame 33 while the opposite end of spring H8 is clamped by a bolt I2I to a flexible arm I22 secured at one end to the frame 30 by any suitable means (not shown). Through its outer free end there extends. a screw I23, the latter being threaded into the frame. By rotating the screw I23 the flexible arm I22 may be moved toward or away from. springs II! and H8 to change the tension thereof and to rotate the lever 43 around its pivotal axis as determined by the flexible hinge 41. For major changes in the position of the lever 43 the bolt assembly I I 3 may be loosened and one end 436 of the lever moved to the right or to the left, as shown in Fig. 2, betweenthe springs I I1 and I I3.

The nozzle 33 is rotatable about the axis of the air-supply tube 38 which leads to a suitable source of compressed air or gas. As best shown in Fig. 4, the nozzle 33 extends outwardly from a cylinder I28 which is pressed by a leaf spring I23 against the sides of a V-shaped notch I30 formed in the housing 30. This geometric mount provides automatic centering of the cylinder I28 so that the axis of rotation of the nozzle 33 will be fixed and predetermined with respect to the frame 33. The leaf spring I23, held in place by suitable screws, presses against the cylinder I28. There is sufficient friction between the relatively movable parts to maintain the nozzle 33 in any selected angular position. As best shown in Fig. 5, the nozzle 33 may be provided with a threaded end 33a which threadedly engages a tube 33b, suitably secured to the cylinder I28. The threaded connection is of the character which develops high friction so that if a wrench be applied to its flattened sections 330, the nozzle 33 may be moved either away from, or toward, the cylinder I 28 to adjust the radius of arc of the nozzle tip to conform to the radius of curvature of surface H of the bailie 42. The cylinder I28 may be provided with a packing gland I3I so that the air-inlet tube 38 may be stationary. Alternatively, tube 38 may be bonded to cylinder I23 and the connection to the air supply may be made as by a flexible hose.

As shown in Fig. 2, the position of the nozzle 33 with respect to the ends of the baille 42 is indicated by a scale I 32 which is rotatable with the cylinder I23 and relative to a stationary index I33, Figs. 3 and 4, forming a part of frame 33. The sector I 34 which carries the scale I32 is secured to the cylinder I23 by any suitable means. In order to hold the delivery pipe 33 stationary upon movement of the sector I 34, a restraining arm I35 may have one end brazed, Fig. 3, or otherwise secured to the delivery pipe 33 while its opposite slotted end embraces a stud I38 which is threaded into that part of the frame 30 which carries the index I33.

The scale I32 for the nozzle may be calibrated as a proportional-band scale expressed as the ratios of movement of index 88 to the calibrated length of scale 31 required to produce movement of the valve II between full-on and full-off. To illustrate, in Fig. 2 the index 88 indicates 320 on the scale 31 which is calibrated from 0 to 500. If a movement of the index 33 from 320 .to 370 causes the control to move the valve from its open position to its closed position, the proportional band will be ten per cent. The same action will result from a movement of index 38 from 320 to 2'70, thus causing the valve to move from fullo en to fully closed position. 01' course. in the foregoin il ustrations it has been assumed that the nozzle 33 occupied a osition with respect to the curved surface ll of baflle 42 to produce the ten per cent proportional band referred to. Thus, the scale I32 may be calibrated as a pro ortionalband scale and in one modification of the invention this proportional-band scale was calibrated from one per cent to one thousand per cent. In the one per cent position, the nozzle 33 would be adjacent the upper end of the curved surface II as viewed in Fig. 2. In the one thousand per cent position, the nozzle 33 would be near the lower end of the curved surface H as viewed in Fig. 2. In the one hundred per cent position fullrange movement of the valve between open and closed positions would require a full-range movement of the index 33 with respect to the index II; that is, a movement equal to the movement of index OI from to 500.

Similarly, movement of the adjusting segment I cal embodiment of the invention and are not herein to be taken as limitative of the permissible width of the proportional band. i

It may be further noted that with the scale I32 set for a five hundred per cent proportional band, the range of valve movements due to proportional action would be only twenty per cent of the full range of movement from open to closed positions. A pH control is typical of systems where such wide proportional bands are employed.

It has earlier been mentioned that the functions of the screw 21! and of the hub 28 may be interchanged as, for example, where valve ii of Fig. 1 might be utilized to control the flow of refrigerant in a cooling apparatus. In such case, a rise in temperature would require the opening of the valve it rather than movement of it toward the closed position as was the case in the heating system of Fig. 1. This interchange of functions is readily accomplished in the embodiment of Figs. 2-8 by an axial shift of gear 34 from engagement with gear 29 to meshing engagement with gear 2% and by axial shift of the gear from engagement with the gear 26 to meshing engagement with the gear 29. In this connection, it will he observed that the gear IE3 is provided with shrouds so that upon axial movement of the gear the gear I03 likewise will be axially moved along its shaft. Of course, in the final selected position of the gears, set screws may be. provided for securing the gears to their respective shafts.

It will, of course, be apparent from an inspection of the drawings, Fig. 2, that clockwise rotation of the gear 25 acts directly through gear 25 to rotate the screw 21 in a counter-clockwise direction with consequent axial translation there of to the left. This translation occurs without disengagement of the gear 26 due to the wide face thereof, provided for that purnose. With the gear 25 in mesh with the gear 29, the same clockwise rotation will rotate the gear 29 in a counter-clockwise direction to rotate the threaded hub 28 in a counter-clockwise direction for axial translation'of the screw 21 to the right. In the latter case, the gear 34 which would then be meshing with the gear 25 is effective to select the control point by rotation of the screw '2'! upon rotation of the control knob 35.

While preferred embodiments of the invention have been disclosed, it is to be understood that certain features may be used without other features thereof, and that additional modifications may be made within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a control system including fluid-pressureoperated means for producing a graduated control action affecting the magnitude of a condition, the combination of pressure-controlling means comprising a device having a relatively adjustable nozzle and a baflle for regulating the fluid pressure applied to said pressure-operated means, means mounting said nozzle for pivotal movement about an axis, said baiile having a nozzleobstructing surface of curvature determined by the length of said nozzle from its axis to the end thereof, a lever pivoted at one end and extending generally parallel to said baflie, means pivotally connecting one end of said baflle to the outer end of said lever, a member for rotating the unpivoted end of said bafile in response to a change in the magnitude of said condition for varying said pressure, negative feed-back means for rotating said lever to move said bafile in a direction to change said pressure in a direction opposite to that produced by said first-mentioned rotation of said baffle, and means for holding said nozzle in a selected angular position for selection of any desired ratio of feed-back action to control action.

2. In a. control instrument, the combination of a fluid-conducting nozzle, means mounting said nozzle for pivotal adjustment about an axis, a baflie having a flow-obstructing surface for varying the fluid pressure within said nozzle, said surface having a curvature substantially corresponding with the length of said nozzle from its axis to an end thereof, a lever having bellows on opposite sides thereof for pivotally supporting and moving one end of said baifie about an opposite pivoted end thereof, means operable by a change in. the magnitude of a condition for moving said last-named end of said bafiie for changing the pressurewithin said nozzle, and a pair of springs disposed to apply opposing biasing forces to said lever, said mounting means for said nozzle providing for pivotal movement there of along any portion of said curved surface and beyond and in spaced relation therewith.

3. In a control instrument, the combination of afiuid-conducting nozzle, means mounting said nozzle for pivotal adjustment about an axis, a bafiie having a flow-obstructing surface for varying the fluid pressure within said nozzle, said surface having a curvature substantially correspending with the length of said nozzle from its axis to an end thereof, means including bellows for pivotally supporting and moving one end of said baifie about an opposite'pivoted end thereof, a screw member rotatable in response to change in the magnitude of a condition for moving said last-named pivoted end of said baffle, and means for holding said nozzle memberin any selected angular position about its pivot with the end thereof disposed in operative flow-restricting relation with respect to said curved surface.

4. The combination set forth in claim 3 in which structure is provided for axially moving said screw member independently of change in the magnitude of said condition for varying the setting of said baffle member with respect to said nozzle.

5. The combination set forth in claim 3 in which said screw member is in threaded engagement with a second member, means for rotating said second member for axial adjustment of said screw member for movement of said bafile tomember having an enlarged end and a threaded hub portion extending through said frame and in which said screw member is threaded, and a asomoo spring between said frame and said thrust bearing eliminating axial backlash therein by holding the parts in predetermined axial position.

7. In a control instrument, the combination of a fluid-conducting nozzle, a flow-obstructing baille associated with said nozzle, means for adjusting the position of said bai'lie relative to said nozzle comprising a stationary member, an internally threaded hub extending through said stationary member, a member threadedly extending through said hub and into engagement with said battle, a thrust bearing and a spring for biasing said threaded member and said hub against said stationary member for elimination of axial backlash, and means for relatively adjusting said hub and said threaded member for positioning said bailie with respect to said nozzle.

8. In a control instrument, the combination ofa fluid-conducting nozzle, a baiile having a flowobstructing surface adjacent the end of said nozzle the spacing therebetween determining the pressure within said nozzle, means responsive to the magnitude of a condition for moving one end completing by-pass connections around said restrictions.

11. In a control instrument, the combination of a fluid-conducting nozzle, a baflle having a flow-obstructing surface operatively associated with the open end of said nozzle for controlling fluid pressure within said nozzle, a pair of opposed bellows in operative relation with said baine, one acting upon it in one direction and the other acting upon it in the opposite direction, fluidflow connections to each bellows, each connection including a flow restriction, condition-controlling means operable by fluid pressure, means for applying to said condition-controlling means a pressure of magnitude determined by the magniture of the pressure within said nozzle for autoof said baiile relative to said nozzle. a pivoted lever, a pair of opposed bellows for moving the opposite end of said bailie to vary its position with respect to said nozzle, a cradle for supportv ing the respective ends of said bellows remote from said lever, and means for moving said cradle relative to said lever for relative adjustments in the lengths of said bellows, and adjustable spring means associated with said lever and acting upon it in a direction and with a magnitude to compensate for any diifering bias applied to said lever by said bellows due solely to changes in length of said bellows for production of a change in the force/pressure characteristics of said bellows.

9. The combination with a control instrument,

an adiustable lever, bellows oppositely engaging said lever for moving it to predetermined positions, means varying the force/pressure characteristic of said bellows in the same manner as would a variation in the effective area thereof comprising a cradle supporting the respective ends of said bellows remote from said lever, means for adjusting the relative lengths of said bellows with reference to said lever to increase and 'decrease relative to said lever the respective lengths of said bellows comprising adjusting and looking means for said cradle, and adjustable spring means acting on said lever and said bellows to compensate for diflferences in the bias produced by said bellows on said lever due to the diflering lengths thereof when like pressures are applied thereto.

10. In a control instrument, the combination of a fluid-conducting nozzle, a bailie having a flowobstructing surface in cooperative relation with the open end of said nozzle for variation of the pressure within said nozzle, condition-controlling means operable by fluid pressure, means for applying to said condition-controlling means a pressure related to that within said nozzle automatically to vary its position with changes of pressure within said nozzle, a lever for adjusting said baflle relative to said nozzle, opposed bellows acting on said lever, means for applying to said bellows by way of one or more fluid-flowgrestrictions the pressure applied to said condition-controlling means, a manually operable pressurecontrolling valve, and transfer means for connecting said condition-controlling means for operation under the control of said manuallyoperable control valve and for simultaneously matically positioning said condition-controlling means, a manually-operable valve for connection to a source of pressure, and transfer means operative in one position for connecting said manually-operable valve to said condition-controlling means for manual control of the position thereof and for concurrently completing by-pass connections around said restrictions, and operable in a second position for re-establishing fluidflow connections to said bellows through said restrictions and to disconnect said conditioncontrolling meansfrom said manually-operable valve and to connect it to a pressure determined by that developed within said nozzle.

12. In a control instrument, the combination of a control lever, means including a thin flat spring rigidly held at one end and at its opposite end connected to said lever forming a pivotal support therefor, bellows disposed respectively on opposite sides of said lever for rotating it in one direction or the other around said pivotal support, a second thin flat spring at one end secured to said lever adjacent the end remote from said first-named, pivotal support, a baiile secured to the opposite end of said second spring which forms a pivotal support for said bame, means including a controlling member engaging said baflie for rotating it in one direction or the other, a fluid-conducting nozzle having its open end in flow-obstructing relation with said bailie, and structure including adjustable means for holding said nozzle in a predetermined position between the ends of said baffle.

13. In a control instrument, the combination of a fluid-conducting nozzle, a flow-obstructing 'baiile associated with said nozzle, means for adjusting the position of said bai'l'le relative to said nozzle comprising a stationary member, an internally threaded hub rotatably carried by said stationary member, a member threadedly extending through said hub and into engagement with said baflle, rotatable driving means and a support slidably carrying said driving means for movement thereof into selective driving engagement with either said hub or said threaded membaflie associated with said nozzle, means for ad justing the position of said baiiie relative to said nozzle comprising a stationary member, an internally threaded hub, means including said stationary member for rotatably supporting said hub in flxed relation therewith, a threaded member threadedly extending through said hub and into engagement with said bailie, driven gears forming driving connections with said hub and said threaded member, driving gears respectively disposed in meshing relation with said driven gears,

supporting shafts for said driving gears having 5 lengths such that each driving gear may he slid along the length of its supporting shaft into meshing relation with either the driven gear of said hub or the driven gear of said threaded member for producing either clockwise or counter-clockwise rotation of said threaded member for a given rotation of a driving gear.

J OHN H. MOLEOD, Jl.

8 REFERENCES crran The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

